Go Go 加犹 !

Just finished the last episode of the Korean drama "Full House" on cable, starring korean hunk singer Rain and the beautiful Song Hye Kyo. Frankly I have never been a crazy fan of korean soapies, and this is the first time I actually finished watching the entire series. Not that the plot or acting were that great in the first place. The scenery was the main attraction to me. The only thing I remember was the camadarie between the couple asking each other to "Go Go 加犹!" a few hundred times, probably.

Actually, I still do not understand why K drama is so popular here. In my view, the selling point of a love story are the main lead couple, who are already famous. And that also made Kpop and singers famous. The camera normally zoom right in on the leads' expression and conversation. And hordes of fans just drool at the sight of their idols. Don't care how convincing (or un-convincing) the plot may be. No wonder so many fans rush to South Korea, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols. Tour packages were specially created for the typical Korean drama fan, bringing them to the various filming sights of popular K dramas.

Just last year, I was in such a tour, accompanying one of my fun-loving aunt who was a great fan of Korean actor Lee Beng Heung. In all these filming sites, giant size posters of the actors/actresses in the dramas were everywhere. Tons of picture-posing. At the end of it, I still couldn't appreciate the attractions. The only reason I went was to enjoy the Autumn weather, sight-seeing, makan and to see why almost all korean girls and guys in the streets are so so so picture-perfect gorgeous (that we know why...). The most memorable highlight was befriending a gentle and pretty Korean lady, Jeong, climbing up Mt Sorak, and carrying her super-duper chubby baby son on her back. The baby boy, Seung Hwan was so cute!

Anyway, I just saw an episode of the highly-rated Korean series <大长今> (Jewel In The Palace) and I am stuck. Hope this one is a better choice! Go Go 加犹 !

See?

This morning, I opened my eyes at 7am. The sky was shining brightly with a hint of rainbow and fresh air permeates everywhere. No more thunder storm and heavy rain. Rinpoche should have landed. See... I told you.

1063

Tonight I came home soaked to the skin. Never had rain been so so heavy for a long time. Everything was a complete blur not more than 2 metres away. Strong winds threatened to overturn the trees. Lightning and thunder went down upon the dark wet roads every few minutes.

In the letterbox, I was delighted to receive my membership card from Gaden Shartse Dro-phenling, with a great auspicious number 1063 ! In cantonese, I think it means "rising and growing all the way from now on". Besides Amitabha Buddhist Center (ABC), Dro-phenling is another buddhist center which I joined. At the same time I also have their invitation for a series of programs starting this Sunday, which is paying homage to Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. This event will be graced by His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche and his entourage of 26 Lamas from India. Lati Rinpoche is a highly realised and respected reincarnate lama and is the Spiritual Assistant to HH Dalai Lama. The guest of honour will be Mrs Goh Chok Tong.

Besides this public event for the whole of next week, there will be private dharma teachings by His Eminence for the rest of November, where he will teach the Dharma for members and students. I will try not to miss these teachings as I place a lot of importance in oral transmission. The essential point is that there is an oral transmission that takes place in which a teacher teaches the student: the student listens to the teachings, absorbs their meaning and puts them into practice. Transmitted teachings have the power to bless and influence those who hear them in a positive way - not only in this lifetime, but in future lifetimes as well. What is most important is the blessing of the essential message by a highly realised individual or guru. It is different from reading it in a book, or hearing it from a CD.

Now I know why we have this thunder storm tonight. This is because Lati Rinpoche is arriving in Singapore tomorrow morning at 7am. It is the shower of blessing before the arrival of a great practitioner/guru. And I know by tomorrow 7am, when His Eminence lands in Singapore, the rain will stop. I have witnessed this phenomena many a times before.

Whose fault?

Maybe he has faults you lament of because no one told him about them?
Maybe there was no need to tell me about his faults at all?
Maybe you should just tell him his faults sincerely?
Maybe it is good that you told me, so that I could tell you this?
Maybe it would be a fault of mine if I didn't tell you so?
Maybe it would be your fault too, if you didn't tell him his faults?
Maybe then, there is no such thing as a wholly personal fault?
Maybe we are best as mirrors of each other, to see each others' faults?

Paint on

"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different."

Why always like that?

Someone spoilt my mood today. I didn't feel anger for so long. Had to remind myself again and again that the person who made me angry is giving me the opportunity to develop patience and compassion. It was hard...but wah-biang... I am not perfect still. Anger is definitely a great obstacle I must overcome (although in comparison to previously, I have definitely improved alot. I would actually consider myself mild and meek now compared to last time).

To make myself feel better, I bought myself 2 doggy plushies, a grey one and a light beige one. And why not, since dogs are supposed to bring me wealth! And of course being utterly fervent about fengshui and everything auspicious, I named the grey one Richie and the light beige one Golden. I am thinking of buying myself a pet dog, partly also to keep my Dad company in the day. Just that I don't have any education on taking care of dogs and which breed I want to get. Not to mention the responsibilities attached. I have a penchant for sausage dogs though.....

I have bought a miniature mani wheel for Kenny. I have also stuffed cash into his neat coat. I think only I know of the significance. Haha!

Eating Their Baby's Flesh

A young couple and their two-year-old child were trying to cross the desert, and they ran out of food. After deep reflection, they realized that in order to survive, they had to kill their son and eat his flesh. They calculated that if they ate such and such a proportion of their baby's flesh and carried the rest on their shoulder to dry, it would last the rest of their journey. But with every morsel of their baby's flesh they ate, the young couple cried and cried.

After he told this story, the Buddha asked, "Dear friends, do you think the young couple enjoyed eating their son's flesh?" "No, Lord, it would not be possible for them to enjoy eating their son's flesh." The Buddha said, "Yet many people eat the flesh of their parents, their children, and their grandchildren and do not know it." - Thich Nhat Hanh

All beings have been related to us in one way or another in the countless rounds of rebirths. Vegetarianism thus, is a practice of universal filial piety to all our parents - of the past, present and future. (Adapted from The Daily Enlightenment)

From me

My Dad is recovering well after the operation. The good news is that his cancer has not spread beyond that part of his colon. He has gone thinner. Otherwise he seemed normal and recuperating.

I pray for him to have a healthy life. I pray that through this crisis, he had learned to appreciate his surroundings and his loved ones better. I pray that he will appreciate my Mom better, her sacrifices for him all these years. I pray he will "awaken" and learn the facts of life, and not to take situations for granted. I pray that he will donate to charities. I pray that he will make his life more meaningful within this lifetime. I pray that he will start creating merits for the good of himself and his loved ones.

I dedicate all the merits I have created to both my Mom and Dad in this lifetime and future lifetimes. As long as my mindstream transcend all consciousness and as long as our fates intertwine with each other in future lifetimes, may my Mom and Dad never ever have to suffer.

Purified

I am supposed to do my report for my meeting tomorrow morning, yet I have not started! I felt compelled to write about how I feel today. I feel especially happy and calm for the past few days. Met up with a dharma friend, counselled a colleague and did some good deeds, I believe.

Had taken 2 initations the past week. After the initiation of White Tara, I had lost my voice and was coughing badly and had a very painful throat. White Tara is the Bodhisattva who is connected with longevity, health, and strength. Through her, it is as if she sends us healing energies and mystical power and understandings. I was told my disposition after her initiation is a sign of purification, cleansing of my internal energies.

This week I took the Medicine Buddha initiation which I had waited for some time. Medicine Buddha embodies the healing aspect; he can cure spiritual, psychological, and physical disease. Among the 12 vows the Medicine Buddha is believed to have taken is that of curing just by the invocation of his name or the thought of Him. Also through the practice of meditation on the Medicine Buddha, one can generate enormous healing power for self and for the healing of others. The essence of the healing practice, is to have strong selfless compassion for others, and to have fervent trust and confidence. That night after I took the initiation, I had an excruciating stomach ache (when I did not eat anything much or wrong in the day) and I had broken out in sudden cold sweat, shivering with nothingness. When morning came, I was perfectly alright. I believe it to be the healing power of the Medicine Buddha who had cured my obscurities, thus I emerged purified.

Also, such were the effects after my recitation of the Golden Light Sutra and Sanghata Sutra. I am in complete bliss, completely blessed.

10,000 times over

Yesterday was the 1st of the chinese lunar 9th month. It was also the solar eclipse, where in Buddhist tradition, all positive or negative actions multiplied by 10,000 times. I took my Mahayana precepts vows at 6am in the morning. This 8 Mahayana Precepts are taken for 24 hours, and it is especially good to take them on full and new moon days and on special Buddhist days. And yesterday was such a day. It was a day I wanted to do all good deeds.

I went to the temple at noon, offer light and flowers to Buddha. As I circumambulated around the huge Buddha statue 3 times, there were 2 big beautiful butterflies that were following closely to me. It was beautiful.

I also went to buy a MP3 player for someone, so that I can download all the dharma teachings and songs. I think that was a good deed too. Later I visited my Dad in the hospital. His operation to remove part of his colon a few days back was a success, both in the sense that his cancer did not spread to other parts like the liver. Also, he need not have to "connect" his big intestine to the small intestine temporarily, whereby he would have needed to wear a bag for his stools for the next 6 weeks, and he would have needed another operation soon. Anyway his wound is recovering fast and we pray for the best. So it was good news.

Even though I had only a light lunch (vegetarian of course) and I was fasting for the rest of the day, I did not feel hungry at all. The Precepts vows required me only to have one meal before noon, and to fast for the rest of the day till the next morning 6am. Observing precepts for even such a short time has tremendous benefits:
- One accumulates a great amount of positive potential (merit) in a short time.
- One will receive pleasant rebirths and eventually will attain enlightenment.
- One is protected from harm

- One's place where one lives becomes peaceful and prosperous.
- One's mind is peaceful and calm; one gains control over one's bad habits.
- One gets along better with others.
- One will meet the Buddha's teachings in the future and be born as a disciple of Maitreya Buddha - the future Buddha.